Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-29
THE BLUE AND GRAY IN BOSTON.
An eloquent address by:Hon. John Goode.

On the recent visit of the m embers of R.
+. Lee Camp at Richmond, Virginia, to the
John A. Andrew Past, of the G.. A. r. at
Boston, in response to the toast-''Our
Guests-by Comrade Harrison Hume Of
fost 10, which he prefaoed with an clio.
quent spsesh of welcome in Faneuil. Hall,
Hon. John Goode, on behalf of the R. E.
Lee Camp, delivered an appropriate, pat.
riotic, and eloquent address, the conclusion
OF which-not having room for the whole
we publish as follows:-
CHOW, gentlemen, you have heard ssme
thing about the war. I enjoyed that clio
quent address of your distinguished com.
rade. 1t touched my heart. do not know
whether it is in order to say anything about
the war. (Cries of GO on, 60 on!') l will
say this to you who have heard the popping
of different kinds of Instrumentation thu
popping of these champagne bettles-ws
have witnessed in our day the most gigantic
civil war the world has ever known. From
the foundation of the government there
had been two opposing theories as to the
limitations upon it's powers under the Con.
stitution. Those radical differences of
opinion finally eliminated in war. While
war continued, almost every inch of Vir-
ginia's soil was pressed by its blood-red
feet. Almost every field was battlefield,
and almost every house hospital.
When the war terminated people of Vir-
ginia bad literally nothing left to them but
the soil. But they did not despair; they
did not sit down and fold their arms in igno-
BILE ease. They went to work-they went
to work with resolute purpose and indom-
liable will worthy of the American race
from which they sprang. [Applause.]
What has been the result? undertake
to say that no people upon this earth has
ever exhibited greater creative energies
than the people of that State since the ter
mination of the war. The statistical tables
will show that they have produced more
wheat, more corn, more tobacco, more man.
ufactures than they ever did in the sans
number of years before. Applause and
cheers) They have built more miles Of
railroad.
Now we are here to talk as brethren and
friends. I want to say this to you-the
people of Virginia are very much misunder.
stood in some sections of our common coun.
try. / profess to know that people.
know whereof affirm when tell you thai
there is not man among them who would
re- establish the institution of slavery if he
could. CHEERS and applause.) And there
is not a man among them, who harbors
in his breast one particle of animosity
or resentment against this proud member
of the American Union or its brave defend.
ers. (Applause.)
When they furled at Appomattox that
torn and battered banner which they had
followed for four long years and professed
to renew their allegiance to the government
of the United States, they acted in good
faith and did what they professed. Uord
applauss.) They did not believe, however,
and am bound to say this, for am here
to make clean breast of it. (Cries OF
''Good" and applause). You wouidn't
have any respect for me if came here with
any hypccritical cant. say that the peo-
pie of Virginia do not believe that the
essential character of our government, as
formed by our fathers, has been changed by
the result of the war. applause. The
war abolished slavery and destroyed forever
the doctrine of secession. Applause. }
But it did not break down the barriers of
the Constitution. (Applause.) 1t did not
remove its limitations upon the power, it
did not destroy the Federal character of
this great republic. (Applause.) 1t did
not convert the government of well defined
and limited powers into grand consolidat-
ed empire. (Applause.)
No, my friends, want to repeat with
emphasis that when any man in this broad
land supposes that Virginia, the mother of
Henry, that forest born Demosthenes, whose
heaven-born eloquence first kindled the
fires of freedom in America; the mother of
jefferson, who framed the declaration of
American independence; the mother of Ma
son, who wrote the first constitution of
free and independent commonwealth Zap
plause); the mother of Madison, who was
confessedly the father of the American con-
stitution; the mother of John Marsh all, the
highest and best m odel the world has ever
known of the upright, able and incorrupti-
BILE judge; the mother of George Washing
ton Cloud applause and eheers), upon whom
all the gods have seemed to set their scala
to give the world assurance of man. Gap
plause. say when any man IN this broad
land supposes that Virginia does not love
this Union, which is large part of the
creation of her own hands, why-he is mis-
taken; that is all. daughter and applause.)
He is most grievously mistaken. He is
about as much mistaken as that hardened
old sinner was whe didn't believe in the
state of future punishment, but who, after
his death, sent message to his pious wife,
through spiritual medium, and asked her
to send him some summer clothes, as he
had been TWO mistak ken about his theory
while alive. {AppIause and laughter)
Now, my friends, here tonight in this his
toric place, around which SO many hallow-
ed memories and historic associations clus-
ter, standing here in old Faneuil Hall, the
very cradle of liberty itself (applause), I
declare to you, my countrymen, and know
what speak, looking you full in the face,
as free men and fellow citizens, declare
to you that the most earnest desire of the
people of Virginia, the most earnest aspi-
ration Of their hearts and prayers to God is,
that we may forever have peace. ZAP
plause.) Peace! A lasting and fraternal
peace between the sections, and peace be-
tween the races. (Applause.)
If unfortunately our government-oUR
government, because we have come back
and mean to stay (!aughter), and we are
ready to CO operate with you men of Boston
and Massachusetts in starting our country
upon new career of prosperity (applause)
4 say, if unfortunately the government
SHOULD be involved in trouble with any
foreign power, the men of Virginia will re-
spond with as much alacrity applause and
cheers) as those of Massachusetts.
If our sister Commonwe alth here the old |
Bay State, should get into any trouble with |
its neighbor across the border (aughter) |
on the fishery question (applause). or any
other question, and should send down to |
the Old Dominion. the old Macedonian cry
"Come up and help use the men of Va. |
will come at your CALL (Applaase.) Oh, |
yes, gentlemen, they will como. They will |
come like the warriors of clan alpine at
sound of their chieftain; they will come as
George Washington aud his patriots came |
in 1775, when the thunder of hostile cannon
first began to echo aud re-eoho aloug your |
coast. [Applause,l But have already
detained you too long. [Cries OF go on,
go on."]
In conclusion desire to express to you
On behalf of the members aud these noble |
boys our profound and heartfelt enjoyment
Of your kind and cordial welcome. Permit
me, gentlemen, to invoke for this good |
city and all its people the greatest measure
Of prosperity, and The choicest blessings of |
heaven. (Applause) Now, | will make |
motion, and know you will respond, Jet |
L